The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-08-25
Voters! a Word!


fic shall be a legal business and be
reconed as one OF the honored and
honest professions or whether it shall
be a crime, before the law. That we
have a right to out law the saloon has
already passed beyond question.
Are we honest and patriotic enough
to do 1t that is the question.
We are asked to vote on this propo-
sition as one involving the public safe
ty, and must therefore vote as citizens
loving our country and home.
1t is unworthy citizen of our
mountain country to pass judgemnt
on public question according as it
effects his private appetites or person
al interests The intelligent East
Tennessean is not so selfish. How
does it affect my neighbor as well as
myself? What is its influence upon
the public intelligence public, finance
and public morals of the country?
AS these questions are satisfactorily
answered so must our ballots be cast.
The evils OF rum shops are too well
known to all OF us to need any proof.
And let us remember that these evils
are not confined to the drinking man
but fall upon every member of socie-
ty. The man who doesn't drink must
help pay the heavy burdens of taxa
ton incurred by the traffic. The wo-
men and children must suffer in mind
and body for comforts that sober hus-
bands generally bring.
The effort is not to save the already
ruined man but to protect the inno-
cent who have no appreciation of the
danger lurking in and around gilded
barroom.
Now and then a cold hearted man
tells me that liquor won't hurt "fel-
Ter" if he will let it alone. My dear
sir is there a bright eyed and happy
boy of ten summers that plays around
your home and freside? Is there?
tell me, is there? Are you willing
that a barroom with its music shall be
put up in front Of your door as a con-
slant temptation to ruin that boy?
You don't want your boy a drunkard,
and we know it, then, sir, where is the
manhood in you when by your ballot
you place barroom at my door to
bring ruin and death to my family.
This prohibitory amendment does
not strike at any private act. Of any
individual, simply looks upon the traf-
fic as public business, public curse.
Should the Amendement be adopted
some men who neither regard God nor
Truth, are trying to make the less in
telligent part Of our people believe
that each community wW haze its little
distilery in order to supply the home
: demand.
For the sake Of the honest voter it is
well to say that the Amendment pro.
hibits the manufacture for sale as a
beverage, and that it does not interfere
with the present regulations of the
National Government, when it i;
manufactured for any other purpose
Then to manufacture for ones own use
a Government license must be procur
ed-a distillery bought-the work done
a store keeper furnished-and 80 cents
on the gallon paid before the frs
: dram can be drunk. No individual
i nor neighborhood can afford this out
y lay of money for private drinking |
is the selling that makes the business
: profitable. That is prohibited, henc,
i no little distilleries.
9 Here, friend, is a thought for you
consideration Why are you not
" rum seller?
6 what? / didn't quite get your an
G swer?"
u "Well, sir, if you will haveit, | don
. think it is Right to sell whisky"
. Good, | agree with you"
When the whiteaproned bar tende
} is asked the same question he points t
F" his license tackled on the wall an
says at is lawful business"
" "Where did you get your licenseY
's From the State"
- "Who compose the State"
= "The people"
"The people, then, gave you you
permission"
"Yes, sir"
n "You hold them responsible wit
or yourself for the evil done"
er Il do, sir"
or Glow do they express themselvC
n on this question"
n, "At the ballot box where all publ
le questions are settled, and when I'll
k, voters OF this country cease to assun
to their part Of the responsibility in tn
ar wicked business | will enter anoth,
is trade or profession. My purpose
if to be a law abiding citizen"
ce Gentle reader, you tell me you {
,k not think it right to sell whisky. 1
ly you believe it is right to be a parin
ut with the seller of whisky?
H. The man Cho uoteS TO c0ntinne The